From Here to History
The history podcast where Chris Swanson and Jason Weidert discuss events and people of the past with as much openness, understanding, and fairness as we can muster. Our only agenda is to inform in an entertaining and engaging way.
We teach high school, after all, and that's a tough audience. Our hope is that if we can keep teenagers interested we may be able to pull off a worthwhile podcast, too.
We try to release one episode every month. But we're teachers with busy young families so if we go a little longer than that between episodes, bear with us!
From Here to History
Houdini Among the Spirits
Just in time for Halloween! In the first of two parts, we will weave a kind of dual biography: Harry Houdini and the spiritualist movement. While Houdini is perfecting his craft to become the world's most famous illusionist, scores of Americans and Europeans are being drawn into darkened rooms with mediums who can talk to the dead. Eventually, maybe inevitably, these two, the magician and the movement, will intersect and then clash.
As usual, here is a possible reading list for your enjoyment:
The Spiritualists by Ruth Brandon
The Witch of Lime Street by David Jaher
Houdini! by Kenneth Silverman
Ghost Hunters by Deborah Blum
Talking to the Dead by Barbara Weisberg
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You can reach out to us by email: fromheretohistory@gmail.com